UN supports call for a human rights based housing strategy

UN Committee supports calls for a human rights based
national housing strategy

4 April
2018: The United Nations has supported calls for
New Zealand to adopt a human rights based national housing
strategy.

This support was issued by the UN Committee on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which recently
reviewed New Zealand’s progress in areas including
housing, health and education and released its concluding
observations.

A human rights based strategy requires
housing to be affordable, habitable, secure in tenure and
accessible.

Chief Commissioner David Rutherford says any
human rights based national housing strategy must endure
from one Government to the next.

“New Zealanders, and
particularly our most vulnerable, are increasingly
experiencing the flow-on effects of successive governments
over many decades neglecting to treat housing as a human
right. The impact of this neglect on educational
achievement, good health and other foundations of wellbeing
is well documented.”

“Good housing is not something
that some people are entitled to and others are not. It is a
human right.

“We need to make sure our housing is
accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities,
that it is insulated and safe to live in, and that there is
enough supply to meet demand,” Mr Rutherford says.

“We are particularly pleased that the UN Committee has
asked the Government to report back to the UN on progress on
a human rights based national housing strategy within 18
months.

“We look forward to this Government working with
civil society, business and their political colleagues
across all parties to develop a human rights based housing
strategy that will endure from Government to Government and
ensure all New Zealanders are well housed,” Mr Rutherford
says.

The Commission’s own submission to the Committee
made several housing recommendations for action
including:• Developing a human rights based national
housing strategy.• Introducing legislation requiring
minimum quality standards for heating and insulation in
rental homes.• Review/amending the Residential
Tenancies Act for greater security of tenure rights for
tenants.• Increasing the provision of social
housing.The ICESCR Committee also made a number of other
important recommendations aimed at strengthening New
Zealand’s compliance with international obligations
relating to economic, social and cultural rights.

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